The Prado
The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery located in Madrid, the capital of Spain. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of more than 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, 1,000 coins and medals, and almost 2,000 decorative objects and works of art. Sculpture is represented by more than 700 works and by a smaller number of sculptural fragments. It is one of the most visited sites in Madrid.
Address: Paseo del Prado; Telephone: 91 330 2800; E-mail: museo.nacional@prado.mcu.es; Website: museoprado.mcu.es; Transport: Metro to Banco de España or Atocha; train to Atocha station; bus 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 or 45; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 8pm; Admission: €6; free for under-18s and over-65s; other concessions available. Free for all on Sundays from 9am to 7pm
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, or in Spanish Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, is an art museum near the Prado Museum in Madrid. It is known as a part of the "Golden Triangle of Art", which also includes the Prado and the Reina Sofia galleries. The Thyssen-Bornemisza fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in the Prado's case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection, includes Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the 20th century, with over 1,600 paintings. The competition was won after in 1986 Baron Thyssen having tried to enlarge his Museum in Villa Favorita and searched for a location in Europe.
Address: Villahermosa Palace, Paseo del Prado 8; Telephone: 91 369 0151; E-mail: mtb@museothyssen.org; Website: www.museothyssen.org; Transport: Metro to Banco de España station. A variety of public buses also provide transport to the museum; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm; Admission: €6 (permanent exhibition); concessions €4. Free for children under 12
Reina Sofia National Art Centre Museum
The national museum of art of the 20th century is nicknamed the Sophia in Madrid. Named after Queen Sofia of Spain it includes the collections of the two finest artist of Spain: Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dáli. Picasso's most famous painting Guernica is shown here.
Besides many other significant artists of the 20th century, the Sophia shows the works of Joan Miró, Vassily Kandinsky, Max Ernst, Antoni Tàpies, Pablo Garrgallo or José Louis Gutíerrez Solana. A special library hosts more than 100 000 books, 3500 sound recordings and nearly 1000 videos.
Address: Calle Santa Isabel 52; Telephone: 91 774 1000; Website: www.museoreinasofia.es; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 10am and 9pm, and on Sundays between 10am and 2.30pm. Closed on Tuesdays; Admission: €6; concessions available. Free on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 9pm and Sundays
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain, located in Madrid. King Juan Carlos and the royal family do not reside in this palace, instead choosing the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace is owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid is still used for state occasions.
The palace is located on Bailén street, in the western part of downtown Madrid, east of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station. The palace is partially open to public, except when in official use.
The palace also has the distinction of being the largest royal palace in Western Europe in size, with over a combined area of over 135,000 m² and more than 2,800 rooms.
Address: Calle Bailén; Telephone: 91 454 8800; Website: www.patrimonionacional.es; Transport: Bus 3, 25, 39 and 148. Metro to Opera Station; Opening time: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, and Sunday 9am to 2pm (October to March); Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 3pm (April to September); Admission: €9, concessions available
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor built during the Habsburg period is a central plaza in the city of Madrid, Spain. It is located only a few blocks away from another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol. The Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape, measuring 129 by 94 meters, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 balconies facing the Plaza. It has a total of nine entranceways. The Casa de la Panadería, serving municipal and cultural functions, dominates the Plaza Mayor.
Goya’s Tomb
The Panteon de Goya is situated in the Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida and is known as Goya's Sistine Chapel. The artist decorated the dome and cupola of the little chapel with a fresco depicting the miracles of St Anthony, with the use of sponges, a project that took six weeks to complete. Mirrors have been placed in strategic places to provide better glimpses of the art. The chapel also contains the artist's tomb.
Telephone: 91 542 0722; Opening time: The chapel is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm, and 4pm to 8pm, and weekends 10am to 2pm; Admission: €2
Parque del Buen Retiro
The Jardines del Buen Retiro or Parque del Buen Retiro or simply the "Lungs of Madrid", is the main park of the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. Buen Retiro Park is a large and popular 1.4 km2 (350 acres) park at the edge of the city center, very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum. A magnificent park, filled with beautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake and host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrid's premier attractions. The park is entirely surrounded by the present-day city.
Opening time: Daily 6.30am to 10.30pm
Flamenco at Corral de la Moreria
Renowned as the oldest and most famous tablao flamenco (flamenco show restaurant) in the world, the show is also listed as one of Madrid's top ten sights. The establishment draws kings and queens, international presidents, film stars, and well-known artists and writers who come to witness the nightly performances of top flamenco stars while receiving excellent service and dining on exquisite meals prepared by some of the best chefs in Madrid.
Address: Calle Moreria 17; Telephone: 91 365 8446, 365 1137; E-mail: web@corraldelamoreria.com; Website: www.corraldelamoreria.com; Transport: EMT 3 or 148, Metro to Opera or Sol stops; Opening time: Open daily 8.30pm to 2am; Admission: €29 per show, not including dinner